Fortum currently has two solar power plants in India, where the sun shines 300 days a year. The newest of the plants is located in Kapeli, a village in Madhya Pradesh State in central India. The plant was built in 2014 and inaugurated in January 2015.
We want to reduce environmental impacts in all our operations and improve economic and social wellbeing. The same goals are also applicable to our business partners, goods and service providers and their supply chains. Fortum’s Supplier Code of Conduct defines the basic requirements that suppliers must comply with. Audits are carried out to verify compliance with, e.g., laws, anti-corruption principles, labour standards and conditions, the ban on the use of child labour, and non-discrimination.
Juwi India Renewable Energies Pvt. Ltd., the supplier and operator of the Kapeli power plant, went through a careful audit process that focused on issues related to business principles, human rights, labour standards and environment. Our audit team visited Juwi’s headquarters in Bengaluru and the operations at the Kapeli power plant. During the process, we interviewed management representatives and employees. Additionally, we checked documents, like payroll receipts and work hour tracking reports. An occupational safety inspection was also conducted at the Kapeli power plant in conjunction with the audit.
Kapeli power plant is the first new solar power plant that has been constructed under Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission (JNNSM) Phase II, the Indian government’s renewable energy investment programme. The power plant consists of 125,000 fixed, CdTe thin film panels and 15 inverters. The solution reduces the carbon footprint, water consumption and the payback time of the investment. The 10-MW (AC) power plant reduces carbon dioxide emissions by about 18,000 tonnes a year. It was awarded the prestigious “Solar Project of the Year” by Asian Power Awards in 2015.